I've got a 8gb one, Sandisk Sansa, though it has a circle wheel so i think it might be the updated or alittle earlier version too that one. Works fine, never had to install anything for it to work. Works fine on other peoples comp's aswell, I take it back and forth from work all the time.

I got it super cheap though, it was $100 on boxing day hehe, now even the 4gb ones are more expensive

Luck of the draw maybe? But i wouldn't know about sound quality its the first MP3 player i've ever had.

Most people would have just returned it and gotten a different one right off the bat. It's nice to see a reviewer dive into the problem and see just how widespread it really was. The time spent testing, returning, calling, and then writing this was worth it if you can send a strong message, which I think you did